The Unbearable Opulence of African Leaders at the Ongoing UN General Assembly: A Shameful Contrast in a Time of Need

As the UN General Assembly unfolds in New York, something both staggering and disheartening is on full display for the world to witness. It is not the critical discussions on global poverty, climate change, or humanitarian crises that have seized the attention of those on the ground. Instead, it is the unimaginable opulence of African leaders, whose lavish lifestyles shine brightly amid the dire needs of their own people.
Picture this: European leaders, hailing from some of the wealthiest economies in the world, arriving at the UN summit in small, unassuming cars. Leaders like the Prime Ministers of Italy, Luxembourg, and the UK, sharing rides, arriving without the fanfare that power often demands. The German Chancellor, Mr. Olaf Scholz together with his Swedish and Danish counterparts, stepping out of a modest Mercedes-Benz, staying in budget hotels, humbled by their mission to serve—not to flaunt.

File image: President William Ruto arriving in Washington DC in May 2024.

Now juxtapose that with the glaring contrast of African leaders—leaders of nations that are, ironically, the poster children of global poverty and underdevelopment. Convoys of over 20 luxury cars rumble through the streets of New York, rented from high-end American car hire services. These leaders have taken over 39 five-star hotels in Manhattan, the glittering heart of Wall Street, with each dignitary and their delegation enjoying the height of opulence while their countries languish in economic despair.
Let that sink in. These same leaders, who will soon stand on the world stage begging for financial aid, humanitarian support, and investment, are spending obscene amounts of money on luxury hotels and high-end shopping sprees. This is a painful reminder that Africa's leadership class continues to be a staggering example of misplaced priorities—where status and spectacle eclipse any sense of duty or financial prudence.

Kenyan delegation and other world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, 2024.

And what is even more tragic is the symbolism behind it all. While African leaders parade through New York in their motorcades, millions of their citizens back home go hungry, lack basic health care, and struggle to access clean water. Africa, a continent rich in resources and potential, is plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and greed. Its people are forced to shoulder the burden of poverty while their leaders jet-set across the globe, indulging in the very excesses they claim to be fighting.

Perhaps the most damning image is that of the German Chancellor, reportedly looking on in disbelief as these leaders, their motorcades cutting through the streets like kings and queens of yore, arrive with the arrogance of unchecked privilege. And yet, these same leaders will soon sit in front of the Chancellor and other global powers, with hands outstretched, requesting more financial aid and debt relief. The hypocrisy is infuriating.
Where is the accountability? Where is the empathy for their own people? What message are they sending to the world, and more importantly, to the millions of Africans whose futures remain shackled by the chains of poverty?
While the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu sleeps humbly in Queens, the Dutch Prime Minister shares a budget hotel with leaders from Malta and the Czech Republic, and the Slovakian Prime Minister resides in Harlem with the Jordanian delegation, African leaders choose to wrap themselves in the fabric of wealth. And for what? To prove that they can afford it? To flaunt power that has done little to uplift their countries?

Israel PM, Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly 2024.

This display of opulence is not only distasteful—it is immoral. It is a betrayal of the very people these leaders are supposed to represent. Instead of using this global platform to advocate for meaningful change, they use it as an opportunity to indulge in excess, sending a clear message: their personal comfort comes before the needs of their citizens.

It is time for African leaders to be held to account for their actions. The world is watching, and so too are the millions of Africans who struggle daily for survival. Leadership is not about pomp and ceremony. It is about service, humility, and responsibility. Until Africa’s leaders embody these principles, the continent will continue to suffer, not from a lack of resources, but from a lack of true leadership.
In the end, it is the ordinary people of Africa who pay the price for this extravagance, and that is the deepest tragedy of all.